Lesson Plan

The editing process is one of the most elusive parts of filmmaking to teach and it's rare to get a glimpse into the often private and meticulous decisions filmmakers make in the edit bay. With the 1958 film TOUCH OF EVIL, we are afforded that rare glimpse into the creative thought process of Orson Welles, often considered to be one of the greatest filmmakers of all time.

After writing, acting in, and directing the film, Welles was abruptly fired from the production after Universal studio execs saw the rough cut and worried its unconventional narrative would tank. What followed was a back and forth struggle over the final cut between Welles and the studio, and resulted in the incredible 58-page memo detailing Welles' editorial notes. While some of his asks were addressed, Universal released its version of the film in 1958. A previously unreleased cut of the film was discovered in 1976 and in 1998, esteemed film editor Walter Murch reconstructed Welles' original vision using his memo as a guide.

In this video, director/editor Joey Scoma compares and contrasts all three versions of TOUCH OF EVIL and shows us how the arduous process of editing pushes and pulls the overarching narrative of a film. Take a page out of this incredible piece of film history and see how even the most minor of edits can act as a powerful storytelling tool.

Special thanks to Wellesnet.com for being such an incredible resource!